Compact instant cooling and heating device

ABSTRACT

A compact instant heating and cooling device has a cabinet that contains both a heating portion and cooling portion. A chilled water container is disposed within the cooling portion and is equipped with two parallel rollers which are turned by a motor. When a beverage is placed on the rollers, the beverage is rotated within the chilled water to provide very fast cooling. The heating portion uses a microwave to heat the food. A door allows entry into the heating portion and a cooling cover provides entry to the cooling portion. A compressor and coils are mounted in the cooling portion and are used to provide the necessary cooling. One embodiment utilizes solid state cooling and another embodiment uses solid state for both heating and cooling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The demand for fast food preparation is increasing in developed nations and the trend does not seem to be abating. Over 90 percent of American households have a microwave and 99.9 percent have a refrigerator. More of us eat out and fast food accounts for a large percentage of that. We have less time to prepare our food and we rely on technology to heat and cool it.

Generally, there are separate devices for heating and cooling. The most common heating types are stoves, microwave ovens, toaster ovens, convection ovens, grills, etc. with refrigerators and freezers being the main cooling types. While microwave ovens have greatly reduced cooking times, cooling times have remained fairly constant using traditional freezers and refrigerators. Each of these appliances take up their own valuable space in a kitchen tying up either floor space or counter space. This can be extremely important depending on the size of the kitchen.

There is a need for a single device that can both quickly heat or cool an item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A compact instant heating and cooling device has a cabinet that contains both a heating portion and cooling portion. A chilled water container is disposed within the cooling portion and is equipped with two parallel rollers which are turned by a motor. When a beverage is placed on the rollers, the beverage is rotated within the chilled water to provide very fast cooling. The heating portion uses a microwave to heat the food. A door allows entry into the heating portion and a cooling cover provides entry to the cooling portion. A compressor and coils are mounted in the cooling portion and are used to provide the necessary cooling. One embodiment utilizes solid state cooling and another embodiment uses solid state for both heating and cooling.

Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a compact instant heating and cooling device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a compact instant heating and cooling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 4 with and alternative food container.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a compact instant heating and cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway side view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 7 with lid open.

FIG. 11 is a see-through rear view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway side view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 7 with an alternative cooling system.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a compact instant heating and cooling device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the compact instant heating and cooling device shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a compact instant heating and cooling device 100 is shown having a cabinet 110 that holds all required components necessary to work. A door 115 is provided to access the interior portion of the heating portion therein. A handle 125 is provided to open door 115. A control panel 120 is provided to control the heating portion as is known in the art. A cooling chamber opening 130 is provided to allow a user to place items such as cans of soda 160, bottle of wine or other contained item to be cooled. A cooling control panel 135 is provided to operate the cooling portion. A slide 140 is used to remove the items by pulling.

A chilled water tank 165 is provided to hold chilled water 175 to facilitate heat transfer from the soda can 160 to the cold water 175. A pair of rollers 170 are provided to turn a cooling cage 155. A turning unit 180 is connected to rollers 170 to provide the motive force. Heat.

A plurality of ventilation holes 145 are provided to allow air flow to interior electronics. A fan (not shown) may be used to further enhance air flow. Small rubber feet 150 are provided to allow air flow and to prevent sliding.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a compact instant heating and cooling device 200 has a solid state heating and cooling unit 235 which is used to heat or cool a heating/cooling container 240 which is in thermal contact with solid state unit 235 and removably held in place with a base block 245. An electronic control unit 250 is provided to allow the unit 235 to chill or heat as selected on a control panel 220. A user selects heat button 255 or chill button 260 to select the desired operation. A cabinet 210 houses the electronics and components needed to operate. A door 215 is provided to access heating/cooling container 240. Feet 270 are provided to allow air flow and to secure compact instant heating and cooling device 200 in place.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternative shaped heating/cooling container 265 is provided to accommodate different food or beverages. The internal operation is the same as discussed in respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Now referring to FIGS. 7 through 11, a compact instant heating and cooling device 300 is shown having a cabinet 310 which holds all the necessary components. A door 312 is opened using handle 316. Heating controls 314 are provided to operate the heating portion. A chiller cover 318 is attached with a hinge 326 and opened using a handle 322. A cooling tank 340 is filled with water 342. A solid state chilling unit 344 is in thermal contact with water 342 and chills water 342 to a cool beverage 330. A pair of rollers 338 is turned by a motor 332. A pulley 334 and belt 336 connects rollers 338 and turns them both which causes beverage 330 to rotate while in contact with chilled water 342. Feet 324 are provided as discussed above. A motor cover 328 protects motor 332.

The heating portion of compact instant heating and cooling device 300 is provided with a microwave portion. Heating portion has a magnetron 346 with a wave guide 352 and a stirrer 354. A turntable 356 is provided to rotate food items placed therein. A turntable motor 358 provides the motive force. A power input 360 directs electric current to all electronic components. Wires 348 are provided to electrically connect components.

In operation, a user lifts cooler cover 342 and places beverage 330 in contact with rollers 338. Cover 342 is lowered and the chilling button 320 is pressed causing water to chill thus chilling beverage 330.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of compact instant heating and cooling device 300 with cooling provided by a compressor 370 and coils 375. Compressor 370 compresses a refrigerant gas and then allows it to expand thus cooling the water in the cooling tank.

Now referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, compact instant heating and cooling device 300 is shown having an alternative cooling cover 318 opening scheme. A hinge 327 is provided along a side edge thus allowing cooling cover 318 to open laterally rather than from front to back as in FIG. 10. This saves operational space.

Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1. A compact instant heating and cooling device comprises: a cabinet; a heating cavity disposed within said cabinet; a first door hingedly enclosing said heating cavity; a heating means for heating food disposed within said cabinet; a cooling chamber; a second door hingedly enclosing said cooling chamber; a cooling means for cooling beverages disposed within said cabinet; a heating control means for controlling the function of said heating means; and a cooling control means for controlling the function of said cooling means.
 2. The compact instant heating and cooling device according to claim 1 wherein said heating means is a microwave device.
 3. The compact instant heating and cooling device according to claim 1 wherein said heating means is a solid state device.
 4. The compact instant heating and cooling device according to claim 1 wherein said cooling means is a compressor refrigerator device.
 5. The compact instant heating and cooling device according to claim 1 wherein said cooling means is a solid state device.
 6. The compact instant heating and cooling device according to claim 1 further comprising: a water tank disposed within said cooling chamber; a pair of rollers parallely aligned along an upper portion of said water tank wherein a container placed between said rollers will be rotated while making contact with chilled water; and a motor mechanically connected to at least one of said rollers. 